The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-14
CHAPTER XI.
THE SIX DAYS THAT FOLLOWED.

When Mrs. Burbank and Alice were in the
tunnel leading to Marine creek, Zermah was in
front. The slave held the little girl with one
hand; with the other she carried lantern, by
whose feeble light they walked. When she
reached the end of the tunnel Zermah asked
Mrs. Burbank to wait for her. She intended tc
make sure that the boat and the negroes that
were to take them to Cedar Rock were at their
post Opening the door ar the end of the tunnel
she stepped out toward the river
For minute-ony a minute-Mrs. Burbank
and Alice waited for Zermah's return. when
Alice noticed that by not with them.
'Dyi Dy!" shouted Mrs. Burbank, at the
risk of betraying her presence
The child did not answer. Accustomed to fol-
low Zermah, she had gone with her out of the
tunnel towards the creek before her mother had
noticed her.
Suddenly a grooming was heard Fearing
some new danger, and thinking not for a mo-
ment of their own safety. they ran out to the
bank of the creek. and reached it just in time to
see boat disappearing in the darkness.
''HeIp Help. 1t is Texar!" shouted Ter
NAH.
"Texarl Texar!' shouted Alice in reply. And
with her hand she pointed to the Spanard. re-
vealed by the reflection of the fires at Candies
Bay. He was standing upright in the boat
which rapidly shot away.
Then all was silent.
The two negroes with their threats cut lay
dead on the ground.
Then Mrs. Burbank. in distraction, followed
by Alice. who in vain tried to stop her. ran
along the bank, calling after her little daughter.
40 cry answered to hers. The boat had be-
come invisible. either because the gloom had
yelled it from her sight, because il had
crossed the river to some point the left
bank.
For an hour this vain pursuit continued. At
last Mrs. Burbank fell exhausted. Alice, with
extraordinary energy, helped the unfortunate
mother to RISE supported her, and almost car
lred her. In the distance, in the direction of
Castle House, rang out the reports of the fire.
arms, mingled every cow then with the
terrible yells of the besecers. But il was neces-
sary to go back in that direction to try and get
back to the house along the tunnel. to open the
door which communicated with the underground
stairs. When she reached that spot how would
Alice make herself heard 2
She dragged Mrs. Burbank along, but the
mother unconscious of what she doing
Twenty times did they stop as they returned
along the riverside. At any instant they might
fall into the hands Of those who wreckng
daylight. But how in this place could she give
Mrs. Burbank the attention her state required
And so cost what it might Alice resolved to get
back to Castle House. And the winding of
the river heightened the way, she thought it
would be better to GO straight across the fields,
guided by the light of the burning barracoons.
This she did, and thus it was she came near the
house.
There Mrs. Burbank fell motionless at her
feet. She could support her no longer.
By this time the detachment of militia, fol-
lowed by the horde of pillagers. had given up
the assault and were far from the palisades.
Not a shout was heard within or without. Alice
imagined that the assailants had captured the
house and abandoned it without leaving of
its defenders alive. Supreme was her anguish;
her strength failed her. and she, too, fell to the
ground, while a last goan escaped from her,
last appeal. 1t had been heard. Burbank and
his friends had rushed out Now they knew all
that had passed at Marine creek. What mat
tered it to them that the plunderers had gone9
What nattered it to them that there was no
fear of falling into their power2 dreadful
misfortune had to them. Little by was in
the hands of Texari
This was the story told by Alice, broken with
many sobs, and listened to by Mrs. Burbank,
who had returned to consciousness and was
barhed in tears. This is what was learnt by
Burbank, Stannard, Carol, Perry and their
few companions. The poor child, taken they
knew not where. in the hands of her fathers
,cruelest enemy! What could be than
that7 Could the future have greater griefs in
storel
All were overwhelmed at the blow. Mrs. Bur
bank was taken to her room and laid on her bed
and Alice remained with her
Below, in the hail. Burbank and his friends
endeavored to devise some plan by which they
could by and Zermah from
Texar's hands. The devoted half would
certainly endeavor to defend the child to the
DEATH But the prisoner of a scoundrel
animated by personal hatred, would she not
pay with her life the curses she hurled at him2
Then James Burbank blamed himself for hav-
ing forced his wife TO leave Castle House, for
having arranged such means of fight which
had turned out so badly. Was Texars presence
nc Marine creek to be attributed to chanc el
Evidently not. Texar, in some way or another,
had heard of the existence of the tunnel He
had said to himself that the defenders of Camd-
less Bay would endeavor to escape by it when
they could no longer hold out in the house. And,
after leading his men to the right bank of the
Burbank behind the walls of the house, there
could be no doubt he and some or his accom-
plices had posted themselves near Marine creek.
There he had suddenly surprised the two blacks
in charge of the boat, and cut their threats,
their cries being unheard amid the tumult made
by the beseigers of the house The Spaniard
had waited till Zermah appeared with little by
close behind her. Seeing them alone, he proba-
bly, thought that neither Mrs. Burbank. nor her
husband, nor her friends were going TO leave
Castle House. Then he would have to be
tent with his prey, and had seized on the child
and the half breed to carry them off to some re-
treat whence it would be impossible to recover
them.
Aud with what more terrible blow could the
scoundrel have visited the Burbanksl
horrible night was passed by tho survivors.
Was there not a chance that the assailants